Bruce Baumberger, Trustee Emeritus, started his over 50-years of leadership of the Evanston Fourth of July Association in 1972 as an Assistant Twilight Show Ticket Chair. That was when the Association offered a twilight show and fireworks at what is now Ryan Field. 

One of his innovations for the Association was a unique, efficient organization for the parade assembly area during a “no-gap” parade in 1975 when he served as the parade marshal.

By 1978, when Bruce served as the Celebration Manager, he was starting an initiative to make our 4^th of July celebration a broader, inclusive community event. 

As an incoming Trustee in 1979, he led the change to offer our fireworks and a concert at the Evanston lakefront free of charge.  That included coordination of the transition of the Association funding model from twilight show ticket sales to reliance on solicitation of contributions from all Evanston residents.

During his many years as a Trustee, he served in each of the Association’s offices and fostered the continued growth of our Independence Day activities to include all Evanston residents – expanded playground sports, parade more representative of the community and our traditional lakefront concert and fireworks.  More recently, Bruce played a major role planning and coordinating the Association’s two virtual celebrations in 2020 and 2021.